The key to the success of Noa Beach Club lies in constant development and constant investment

1. Noa Beach Club has been one of the most well-known clubs in Croatia and beyond for years. What do you think is the key factor that brought Noa Beach Club to the status of one of the Top 10 clubs in the world according to DJ Mag?

The key to our success lies in constant development and continuous investment—not only in the physical space of the club, but also in the location, music program, technology, and overall guest experience. Every year, we invest in improving infrastructure and content—from arranging parking and the beach to cleaning the surrounding area and expanding zones for rest and entertainment. We're especially proud of the development of Noa Yacht Club, which has become a recognized experience in nautical tourism.

Our location is alive day and night—seven days a week. During the day, we offer a full beach experience: relaxation in private cabanas, premium food and drinks, water sports, massages, a barber shop, tattoos and piercings, even a gym. All our facilities are carefully designed using natural materials like driftwood, and artistic installations enrich the ambiance.

Technical quality is extremely important to us—from world-class sound systems and visual effects to top-tier performance acts. We also give special attention to VIP guests: we offer exclusive VIP transfers, privacy, personalized themed celebrations, and we're the only club in the world with an exclusive contract with Uber, whose cars drive only for our guests on location.

Each year, we bring globally renowned artists and invest significant resources in line-ups, production, and overall content quality. All of this is provided in one micro-location, fully tailored to guests, where they can enjoy a complete 360° experience—that’s why both audiences and partners love us.

And, importantly, Noa is one of the few open-air clubs located by the sea. Today, we are the 10th best club in the world according to DJ Mag, the 5th best open-air club globally, and the No. 1 club in Croatia, the region, and Southeast Europe. We've been on the list of the best clubs for years, and we work hard to justify that recognition every year—we don’t allow ourselves to relax.

We follow and apply modern technologies: we use our own webshop and ticketing system, sales analytics, and guest safety tools such as smart wristbands and drones. Soon, we'll be launching our own mobile app packed with features to enhance the experience for our visitors.

All of this makes Noa Beach Club unique—a combination of content, technology, location, and dedication that sets us apart on a global level.

2. You are the top-ranked club in Croatia, the region, and Southeast Europe. How much does this title mean to you, and how does it impact business and guest attraction?

This title means a lot to us because it's the result of years of hard work, investment, effort, and enthusiasm from the entire team behind Noa. Every employee, collaborator, and partner has contributed to what Noa is today, and we’re extremely proud that this work is recognized globally. When dedication and quality are acknowledged with such an award—it confirms we are on the right path and motivates us to go even further.

From a business standpoint, being ranked 10th in the world by DJ Mag is an incredibly valuable accolade. It's a prestigious title that carries weight in the music and entertainment industry and provides strong credentials and trust to our business partners. When a club is on the global map of top destinations, collaboration becomes easier, and interest in partnerships and joint projects grows.

For our guests, it confirms the quality—they come knowing they will receive top service, rich content, and an unforgettable experience. In a world where clubs and festivals compete for attention, this kind of recognition adds an extra layer of prestige. And there's also an emotional element: the feeling of being part of something truly unique, globally recognized, and located in Croatia—one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world.

It’s a powerful mix of the Adriatic’s natural beauty, open-air clubbing, and technological and program excellence. Being ranked 10th globally, and coming from a small country, is both an honor and a responsibility to prove our worth to every guest—again and again.

3. Every year, the club brings in superstar DJs from the DJ Mag Top 100 list. How do you select bookings, and how challenging is it to secure performances by the world’s most famous DJs?

Each year we carefully select artists who are at the very top of the DJ Mag Top 100 list—including both legendary names and fresh rising stars. Throughout the year, we follow the scene closely—new releases, trending tracks, and shifts in audience taste. We especially focus on current relevance—if an artist drops a global hit, we try to book them while the buzz is still fresh.

We also aim to cover various genres. Our in-house festivals are mostly EDM-focused, but guest festivals hosted at Noa offer techno, house, trance, hardstyle, and even reggaeton, trap, and pop—we want every visitor to find something they love.

Of course, booking global stars is far from easy. We're competing with major festivals and clubs worldwide—from the U.S. to China to Ibiza. Factors like location appeal, tech equipment, finances, logistics, and service quality all come into play.

Luckily, it’s now a bit easier—being the 10th best club in the world really opens doors and speeds up negotiations. Artists recognize our value and increasingly trust in our reputation.

The booking process is ongoing—some are confirmed a year ahead, while others come together at the last minute. But the most important thing is that, once the artist arrives, everything is perfect—from accommodations, meals, and sound, to hospitality, staff, and security.

DJs truly value that—when they feel they're working with professionals and everything runs smoothly, with attention to detail. That's why we often get glowing feedback and recommendations. Many artists return to perform again, which is the best proof of quality and vision.

4. You announced upgrades to the sound and stage design in the club for the upcoming season. Can you tell us more about that – what can visitors expect this summer?

Noa is already well-known for its world-class sound, and we approach that quality with great care. Setting up a top-tier sound system in an open-air club is extremely challenging, but from day one, we’ve worked with regional D&B experts to ensure perfect acoustics throughout the venue. The main sound system is based on the latest D&B Audiotechnik equipment.

In addition to the main system, separate sound systems are installed in the VIP zones, the ring, and the gallery, while the After Beach area – where daytime parties are held – has its own independent sound system. Our goal is for every guest, no matter where they are, to experience equally powerful and clear sound. In the future, we plan additional upgrades to stay at the top of our game.

When it comes to stage design, our main stage is covered with impressive LED screens that together form a dynamic visual shell – with interactive effects and custom-designed visuals for each evening. On top of that, we have dozens of additional screens placed around the audience area, which further enhance the overall impression and experience.

Integral to each evening’s program are our dancers, acrobats, and performers, who bring a unique “live show” moment to every night. We're especially known for our VIP services – bottle delivery in VIP zones is never standard: our teams often appear in costumes, or even descend by crane, bringing bottles on the back of Batman, a dragon, or some other original and fun character.

The whole experience at Noa is never just a party – it’s a complete audiovisual and emotional story. We want to offer guests something they haven’t experienced anywhere else – and that’s what keeps us recognizable year after year.

5. Noa Beach Club now also has a specialized beach stage. What kind of content do you plan to offer visitors with this concept? How important is it for the overall guest experience?

Our new beach stage represents a significant expansion of Noa Beach Club’s offerings and further enriches the overall experience of our visitors. It is located on a newly renovated beach right next to the club, with a capacity of up to 20,000 people, making it ideal for hosting large daytime events and festival programs. For comparison, the main club accommodates up to 5,000 guests – so this new location opens up fresh possibilities for us and our business partners.

The concept is clear: daytime beach parties on the sand, and nighttime events in the club. This allows our guests to enjoy a full-day experience – surrounded by the sea, salt, sun, and a laid-back summer atmosphere. The space is open, breezy, comfortable, and relaxed – guests come in beachwear, enjoy more room, a lighter vibe, and a different rhythm than in the evening. Variety of formats is key today – and the beach event gives the entire experience a distinct “summer signature.”

Though there are greater production challenges – due to the open space and the need for additional infrastructure – we successfully overcome them thanks to our top-notch equipment and expert team. Our partners and organizers truly appreciate the opportunity to host events on the beach, as it allows them to expand their content and add new value for the audience.

For example, this year at the end of June, the Hideout Festival will hold one of its programs on our beach – last year’s edition was a major success and it motivates us to further develop this concept.

The location offers everything guests need – from food and drink, VIP service, cabanas and sunbeds, to a range of water sports and recreational activities. The beach stage is more than just an extra platform – it’s a new dimension of the experience, elevating Noa Beach Club to an even higher level.

6. You are known for your top-tier festivals and lineups. Which festivals and events produced by Noa Beach Club would you highlight? Who are the biggest headliners we can expect this season?

Among our in-house productions, we would particularly highlight several key festivals that have become signature events for Noa Beach Club. First and foremost is Circus Maximus, our longest-running festival, successfully held for more than 10 years at the end of July. This year again features an incredibly strong lineup with artists from the DJ Mag Top 100 list. Among the most famous names are: Steve Aoki – a global superstar known for his hits, energy, and iconic cake-throwing moments, KSHMR, Nicky Romero, and Quintino.

At the beginning of August comes the Sunscape Festival, which grows each year and attracts increasingly powerful names. In addition to performances by Kaaze, Nicky Romero and Plastik Funk, we’ve confirmed one of today’s biggest DJs – Afrojack – perhaps the biggest name to ever perform at Noa. This will undoubtedly be the highlight of the summer that you don't want to miss.

We also have the Summertide Festival, as well as our popular weekly Noa Frequency nights, during which our resident DJs perform: Lorenzo, Monks, Noide, and Vandal Steve. With them, every show is guaranteed good fun and the perfect summer vibe, and through them, we’re also building our own musical identity.

Besides our festivals, we collaborate with many renowned guest festivals where we co-organize and produce events. These include: Spring Break Island, Zrće Spring Break, Hideout Festival, Verknipt, Austria/Germany Goes Zrće, and Sonus Croatia. Each of these events brings thousands of guests from all over the world and helps position both Zrće and Noa Beach Club as one of Europe’s top festival destinations.

7. You provide strong support to the local scene through performances by resident DJs from Croatia and the region. A few years ago, you also launched projects aimed at attracting domestic visitors to Zrće. How important is it to you to promote local artists and how does the Noa Frequency concept help build the club’s musical identity?

From the very beginning, supporting the local and regional scene has been one of our top priorities. We actively collaborate with young performers, DJs, and artists from the electronic scene in Croatia and the wider region. We’re proud that many of them began their professional journey with us, and some – like Matroda – now perform globally.

Artists recognize Noa Beach Club as a place with excellent equipment, a great crowd, high-quality organization, and world-class production. We have a top-tier technical setup – from professional sound, large LED screens, and lighting to all the effects that are a crucial part of a great performance.

Through our weekly Noa Frequency nights – held throughout the season – we build our own musical identity. These nights feature our resident DJs, and the crowd enjoys a mix of EDM, techno, house, and remixes of global hits – music that creates an amazing vibe and evokes emotion.

Additionally, over the past few years, we’ve launched festivals with a domestic and regional character to bring Zrće closer to the local audience. These include: May 1st Fest – which traditionally opens the season, Menadžerijada – a student festival with music and educational content, Balkan Blaze & Balkan Wave – festivals bringing together performers and fans from the region, and Unifest – held for the first time this year and already a great success, gathering students from across Croatia.

These programs not only promote local artists but also raise awareness of the importance of cultural and musical exchange. Thanks to them, the club and the entire location are active as early as April – well before the season’s peak. This increases visibility and local engagement, which is extremely important to us, and we plan to develop this further in the future.

8. If you had to pick one highlight of the upcoming season at Noa, what would it be and why?

While Steve Aoki’s performance at our Circus Maximus festival has already become a beloved tradition that the audience eagerly awaits each year, this season I would especially highlight the Sunscape Festival as the absolute highlight of the summer.

This year’s Sunscape brings Afrojack – one of the most famous and influential DJs today. He’s a Grammy-winning Dutch producer with numerous global hits who has performed on the biggest stages worldwide. His arrival marks a historic moment for Noa Beach Club, as he’s one of the biggest acts ever to perform not just at our venue but in Croatia as a whole.

Sunscape Festival will deliver four days of top-tier entertainment, and alongside Afrojack, you’ll see Nicky Romero, Kaaze, Plastik Funk, and many more supporting DJs. Visitors can expect a variety of content – from exclusive VIP service in the club, party boats, to an attractive daytime beach program with great food, drinks, and additional offerings.

It’s a can’t-miss event – the ideal combination of musical elite, production excellence, and Adriatic summer atmosphere that makes Noa Beach Club truly unique on the global festival map.

9. How important has safety become in organizing club and festival events, considering the growing attendance and global trends?

Safety is now one of the key factors in organizing any large-scale event, especially those that gather thousands of people in a short time frame, such as summer festivals and open-air club nights. Today’s visitors don’t just expect great music and top-quality production – they also want to feel safe and trust the system that surrounds them. In line with global trends, safety protocols are no longer something hidden “behind the scenes,” but have become an active part of the user experience.

At Noa Group, we take this responsibility very seriously and continually invest in new technologies and staff training to ensure the maximum protection of all guests.

10. Last year, you tested a new guest safety project on Zrće using artificial intelligence, including smart wristbands and “security drones.” The introduction of technologies like drones and surveillance cameras surely changes the guest experience. How will this system work concretely this year, and what are its main goals? How do you balance safety and privacy for guests?

Last summer, we implemented a pilot project that was, in many ways, the first of its kind in the world – combining advanced AI analytics, security drones, smart wristbands, and a central monitoring system. This year we’re taking it a step further: the system has been upgraded, the algorithms are more accurate, and the team better trained.

Smart wristbands allow visitors to trigger an alert to a centralized physical and civil protection system if they feel unsafe – also notifying nearby guests who may be first to respond. The wristbands can also connect to a mobile app, which functions as a social network for civil protection within our tourist complex.

This project includes the development of a robotic platform that currently doesn’t exist anywhere in the world. It will be supported by proprietary innovative control algorithms, artificial intelligence, and specialized safety protocols for the operation of the MIRP (Mobile Investigative Robotic Platform for Security). Of course, all elements comply with current regulations and safety standards, and wristbands will be worn only by guests who choose to opt in.

The main goals are incident prevention, fast response, and creating an environment where everyone feels safe without disrupting their enjoyment. As for privacy – it’s extremely important to us. All systems operate solely for safety purposes, do not collect personal data, and fully comply with GDPR regulations. Our aim is balance – discreet but effective protection.

11. Is this the first time such a system is being implemented on Zrće? Are there similar examples elsewhere in the world, or is this a completely innovative approach? Does this project have a future for use in other destinations?

This is the first time such a comprehensive safety system has been implemented on Zrće – and globally in this form. While some festivals use video surveillance or smart tickets, the integration of drones, smart wristbands, and real-time artificial intelligence is an innovation that places us at the forefront of tech solutions for large-scale events.

We believe this project has a very bright future. We’re already receiving inquiries from other European destinations interested in replicating this model. The potential is enormous – from festivals and sports events to tourist resorts and urban zones with high foot traffic. Investment in smart safety is no longer optional, but necessary.

12. How do you think this new system will affect Zrće’s image as a party destination? Can this type of safety measure attract even more visitors looking for fun in a safe environment?

Safety and trust are the foundation of a strong reputation – especially today. By introducing this system, Zrće not only maintains its status as one of Europe’s top party destinations but also moves a step ahead of the rest. We’re showing that it’s possible to combine world-class entertainment with a responsible approach and genuine care for every guest.

We believe these measures will attract an even broader audience – from young people seeking unforgettable experiences to parents allowing their teens to attend a festival for the first time, knowing they’ll be in a secure environment. Our vision is for Zrće to be not only a synonym for fun, but also for safety, innovation, and world-class professionalism.

13. You recently returned from music conferences in Valencia and Tirana. How did people in Valencia react to your patent? What was discussed during the panel at the new Muse-X music expo in Tirana, which brings together electronic scene actors from across the Balkans? What were the conclusions from that panel? What is the Balkan region missing compared to the European/global scene?

We participated in the Fun Business Days conference in Valencia, where we presented our innovative safety system for the event industry – including smart wristbands and drone surveillance. The feedback was extremely positive. Attendees from across Europe showed great interest in our approach – especially since no one had yet implemented such a solution in this way.

Safety at events is gaining more and more attention, particularly given the increasing number of visitors and organizational complexity. Our project was recognized as a value-added proposition for the industry – not just as a technical innovation, but also as an example of a responsible and strategic approach to organizing large events.

It was especially highlighted that this model could serve as an example for other destinations and clubs, given its potential to simultaneously enhance guest experience and improve safety. We received many inquiries about collaboration and knowledge exchange, showing that Noa Group and Croatia are becoming increasingly relevant voices in the international event industry.

In Tirana, during the panel titled “Without Missing a Beat: The Rapid Rise of Music Festivals in the Balkans,” we discussed the reasons behind the rapid growth of festivals in the region – particularly electronic music, which currently dominates the scene. The panel raised many important topics – from production challenges and lineup diversity, to audience needs and new communication models.

We emphasized that the Balkans are now an incredibly attractive destination – with visitors coming for the beautiful nature, affordable prices, and ever-improving offerings, especially along the Adriatic coast. However, for sustainable growth, it’s essential to maintain continuous communication with the audience, primarily through social media, which today have enormous reach and influence over behavior, taste, and choices.

We support Muse-X and similar initiatives that bring together professionals from the music and entertainment industry – we need more of these events. Experience sharing, panels, education, and networking are crucial for further development of the regional scene.

The panel concluded that the region has tremendous potential but still lacks coordination and collaboration among organizers, concrete joint projects with broader reach and international influence, as well as stronger promotion of the Balkans as a unique festival and cultural destination. Further investment is needed in education, talent development, production capacity, and a strategic approach to branding the region on the global stage.

We believe this is just the beginning of broader cooperation that can lead to real partnerships, a stronger professional network, and new projects on the European and global level.

Read original article in Croatian at Klubska Scena news portal: https://www.klubskascena.hr/scena/intervjui/amar-foco-kljuc-uspjeha-noa-beach-cluba-lezi-u-stalnom-razvoju-i-neprestanom-ulaganju-03062025